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Acute Septic Arthritis
Mark E. Shirtliff and Jon T. Mader
Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2002, 15(4):527. DOI:
10.1128/CMR.15.4.527-544.2002.
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CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Oct. 2002, p. 527–544
0893-8512/02/$04.00⫹0 DOI: 10.1128/CMR.15.4.527–544.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Vol. 15, No. 4
Acute Septic Arthritis
Mark E. Shirtliff1* and Jon T. Mader2,3
Center for Biofilm Engineering1 Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717-3980, and Division of Marine Medicine, The
Marine Biomedical Institute,2 and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine,3 The University of Texas
Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1115
teria during joint surgery has increasingly been a source of
bacterial arthritis, particularly in association with knee and hip
arthroplasties. When a bone infection breaks through the outer
cortex and into the intracapsular region, a joint infection may
also result, especially in children (9, 117). In infants, small
capillaries cross the epiphyseal growth plate and permit extension of infection into the epiphysis and joint space (22). In
children older than 1 year, osteomyelitis infection presumably
starts in the metaphyseal sinusoidal veins and is usually contained by the growth plate. The joint is spared unless the
metaphysis is intracapsular. The infection spreads laterally,
where it breaks through the cortex and lifts the loose periosteum to form a subperiosteal abscess. In adults, the growth
plate has resorbed and the infection may again extend to the
joint spaces.
SOURCE OF INFECTION
Most septic joints develop as a result of hematogenous seeding of the vascular synovial membrane due to a bacteremic
episode (86, 113). Although a rare cause, acute septic arthritis
may also occur as a result of joint aspiration or local corticosteroid joint injection (74, 86). In addition, bacterial arthritis
may arise secondary to penetrating trauma (such as human or
animal bite or nail puncture) or after trauma to a joint without
an obvious break in the skin. The direct introduction of bac-
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: The Center for Biofilm
Engineering, 366 EPS Building, P.O. Box 173980, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3980. Phone: (406) 994-4770. Fax: (406)
994-6098. E-mail: [email protected].
527
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SOURCE OF INFECTION........................................................................................................................................527
MICROBIOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................528
PATHOGENESIS........................................................................................................................................................528
Nongonococcal Arthritis.........................................................................................................................................528
Joint colonization and bacterial adherence ....................................................................................................528
Joint infection and the host immune response ..............................................................................................529
Joint damage .......................................................................................................................................................530
Bacterial products and their pathogenic role .................................................................................................530
Bacterial clearance versus joint damage .........................................................................................................532
Gonococcal Arthritis...............................................................................................................................................532
Gonococcal virulence factors.............................................................................................................................532
Host factors .........................................................................................................................................................532
RISK FACTORS .........................................................................................................................................................532
DIAGNOSIS OF NONGONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS ...........................................................................................533
Clinical Presentation ..............................................................................................................................................533
Laboratory Findings ...............................................................................................................................................533
Imaging Studies ......................................................................................................................................................534
Differential Diagnosis.............................................................................................................................................535
Preexisting joint infection..................................................................................................................................535
Endocarditis.........................................................................................................................................................535
Chronic infectious arthritis ...............................................................................................................................535
Viral arthritis ......................................................................................................................................................535
Crystal-induced arthritis ...................................................................................................................................535
Reactive arthritis ................................................................................................................................................535
DIAGNOSIS OF GONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS ....................................................................................................536
Clinical Presentation ..............................................................................................................................................536
Laboratory Findings ...............................................................................................................................................536
Imaging Studies ......................................................................................................................................................536
Differential Diagnosis.............................................................................................................................................536
TREATMENT OF NONGONOCOCCAL ARTHRTIS ..........................................................................................537
Antibiotic Therapy ..................................................................................................................................................537
Antibiotic Administration in the Elderly.............................................................................................................537
Surgical Therapy.....................................................................................................................................................538
TREATMENT OF GONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS..................................................................................................539
A SPECIAL CASE: PROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTIONS ..................................................................................540
PROGNOSIS ...............................................................................................................................................................541
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................................541
528
SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
MICROBIOLOGY
may be caused by Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter
spp., or Yersinia spp. (50, 82). However, these cases may reflect
a form of reactive arthritis. A rare form of migrating polyarthritis may be caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis. In human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, S. aureus
continues to be the most common isolate (approximately 30%)
(178). However, increased numbers of opportunistic pathogens
are isolated from this patient subset, including S. pneumoniae,
mycobacterial species, and fungal species (149, 178).
While relatively rare in Western Europe, the diplococcus
gram-negative bacterial species Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the
most common cause of septic arthritis in United States (94,
122, 141). The number of cases of gonorrhea decreased by 72%
between 1975 and 1997, and this decrease was correlated with
a reduction in disseminated gonococcal infection and arthritis
(26). However, the reported rate has increased by 9.2% between 1997 and 1999 and now stands at 133.2 cases per 100,000
per year (26). Specifically, the rate of gonococcal infection in
men who have sex with men has demonstrated an alarming
increase. These increased incidence rates may also cause larger
numbers of observed gonococcal arthritis cases.
PATHOGENESIS
The pathogenesis of acute septic arthritis is multifactorial
and depends on the interaction of the host immune response
and the invading pathogen. By taking into account the steps of
bacterial colonization, infection and induction of the host inflammatory response, one may gain a greater understanding of
this joint disease.
Nongonococcal Arthritis
Since S. aureus has been extensively studied with regard to
its role in septic arthritis and causes the majority of cases in
most nations (and the majority of nongonococcal cases in the
United States), we will use this bacterial species as the “typical” pathogen in the discussion of acute nongonococcal septic
arthritis.
Joint colonization and bacterial adherence. The synovial
membrane has no limiting basement plate under the wellvascularized synovium; this allows easy hematogenous entry of
bacteria. As mentioned above, bacteria may also gain entry
into the joint by direct introduction or extension from a contiguous site of infection. Once bacteria are seeded within the
closed joint space, the low fluid shear conditions enable bacterial adherence and infection. Colonization may also be aided
in cases where the joint has undergone recent injury. In this
environment, the production of host-derived extracellular matrix proteins that aid in joint healing (e.g., fibronectin) may
promote bacterial attachment and progression to infection.
The virulence and tropism of the microorganisms, combined
with the resistance or susceptibility of the synovium to microbial invasion, are major determinants of joint infection. S.
aureus, Streptococcus spp., and N. gonorrhoeae are examples of
bacteria that have a high degree of selectivity for the synovium,
probably related to adherence characteristics and toxin production. Aerobic gram-negative bacilli such as Escherichia coli
rarely infect the synovium except in the presence of an underlying and compromising condition. The virulence of the organ-
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Virtually every bacterial organism has been reported to
cause septic arthritis. The microorganisms responsible for bacterial arthritis are largely dependent on host factors (see “Risk
Factors” below). The most common etiological agent of all
septic arthritis cases in Europe and all nongonococcal cases in
the United States is Staphylococcus aureus (9, 34, 39, 94, 141).
The representation of S. aureus is more pronounced in patients
with either rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes. After S. aureus,
Streptococcus spp. are the next most commonly isolated bacteria from adult patients with septic arthritis (58, 94, 113, 141,
153, 183). While one study had a high representation of Streptococcus pneumoniae (113), Streptococcus pyogenes is usually
the most common streptococcal isolate, often associated with
autoimmune diseases, chronic skin infections, and trauma (94,
113, 141, 153). Groups B, G, C, and F, in order of decreasing
preponderance, are also isolated, especially in patients with
immunocompromise, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, and severe genitourinary or gastrointestinal infections (94, 113, 141,
153). Gram-negative bacilli account for approximately 10 to
20% of cases (34, 94, 113, 141, 153, 183). Patients with a history
of intravenous drug abuse, extremes of age, or immunocompromise display a higher prevalence of infection by gram-negative organisms. The most common gram-negative organisms
are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Anaerobes
are also isolated in a small percentage of cases, usually in
diabetic patients and patients with prosthetic joints. Approximately 10% of patients with nongonococcal septic arthritis
have polymicrobial infections.
Historically, Haemophilus influenzae, S. aureus, and group A
streptococci were the most common causes of infectious arthritis in children younger than 2 years. However, the overall
incidence of H. influenzae as a cause of septic arthritis is decreasing because of the H. influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine now
given to children (35). A recent study of 165 cases of acute
hematogenous osteomyelitis or septic arthritis treated in the
years before and after the advent of the Hib vaccine demonstrated that musculoskeletal infections due to this bacterial
species were reduced to nearly nonexistent levels (18). Therefore, the coverage of H. influenzae as part of the empiric antibiotic coverage may no longer be needed in the management
of acute septic arthritis in Hib-vaccinated children. While H.
influenzae has lost its predominance as the most commonly
identified gram-negative pathogen in pediatric populations,
the normal oropharyngeal resident of young children, Kingella
kingae, may have taken its place, specifically in patients
younger than 2 year (102, 103, 190, 192). In fact, a recent study
found that the nearly half of the clinical isolates from patients
younger than 2 years with acute septic arthritis were K. kingae
(190). However, these results have yet to be repeated in other
regions. Clinical data suggest that the organism may gain access to the bloodstream in the course of an upper respiratory
infection or stomatitis (191). In children older than 2 years, S.
aureus, streptococci, H. influenzae, and N. gonorrhoea have
usually been isolated (33, 47, 185), although H. influenzae may
have also lost its predominance in patients in this age group
(102).
Microbiological associations exist with concomitant disease
states. Septic arthritis following cases of infectious diarrhea
CLIN. MICROBIOL. REV.
VOL. 15, 2002
529
those associated with joint trauma or implanted medical devices (125).
These receptors may play an additional role in an intracellular immunoavoidance strategy. S. aureus survives intracellularly after internalization by cultured osteoblasts (72). Staphylococci have demonstrated internalization into other cultured
mammalian cells as well as osteoblasts; these include bovine
mammary gland epithelial cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and pulmonary epithelial cells isolated from a
cystic fibrosis patient (80, 91, 108). Initial adherence to glandular epithelial cells is mediated by S. aureus fibronectin receptors (91), possibly using fibronectin as a bridge between the
host cell and the bacterial receptors. Following adherence,
bacteria may be internalized by host mechanisms involving
membrane pseudopod formation (seen in established bovine
mammary epithelial cell lines) or through receptor-mediated
endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits (seen in mouse osteoblasts
and epithelial cells) (42, 91). In either case, the dependence on
the action of host cytoskeletal rearrangements through microfilaments is evident.
Following internalization, staphylococci may induce apoptosis (via a host caspase-dependent mechanism) or survive intracellularly (12, 91, 108, 186). Induced apoptosis may exacerbate
the host cell damage seen in septic arthritis. Also, staphylococci may escape clearance by the immune system and antimicrobial therapy by persisting within these host cells. This survival was recently demonstrated in vivo when S. aureus cells
were found in the cytoplasm of embryonic chicken osteoblasts
and osteocytes in mineralized bone matrix (131). In another
study, S. aureus was found within polymorphonuclear neutrophils in an in vivo infection model, and these infected host cells
were able to establish infection in naı¨ve animals (65). Therefore, this pathogen may utilize invasion as an immunoavoidance technique during the host inflammatory response. After
the downregulation of the adaptive immune response through
T-cell apoptosis (mediated by superantigens, other toxins, and
invasion), fulminant and/or persistent infection may result.
Joint infection and the host immune response. Once colonized, bacteria are able to rapidly proliferate and activate an
acute inflammatory response. Initially, host inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1-␤ (IL-1␤) and interleukin 6
(IL-6), are released into the joint fluid by synovial cells (88).
These cytokines activate the release of acute-phase proteins
(e.g., C-reactive protein) from the liver that bind to the bacterial cells and thereby promote opsonization and activation of
the complement system. In addition, there is an accompanying
influx of host inflammatory cells into the synovial membrane
early in the infection. Phagocytosis of the bacteria by macrophages, synoviocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells occurs and
is associated with the release of other inflammatory cytokines
that include tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-␣), IL-8, and
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, in addition
to increasing the levels of IL-1␤ and IL-6, which are already
present. It was demonstrated in a recent clinical study that IL-6
and TNF-␣ concentrations were persistently high even 7 days
after treatment was initiated while IL-1␤ levels decreased significantly after 7 days (123). Many of these cytokines and the
associated immune response have been shown in animal models to be required for bacterial clearance and the prevention of
mortality due to bacteremia and septic shock (180). Nitric
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ism once inside the joint varies. In rabbits, intra-articular injection of 10 5 S. aureus organisms into the knee joint resulted
in major joint destruction but identical injections of N. gonorrhoeae or S. epidermidis caused no joint inflammation (57).
S. aureus has a variety of receptors, termed microbial surface
components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules
(MSCRAMMs), for host proteins that mediate adherence to
the joint extracellular matrix or implanted medical devices (68,
142, 189). Some of the host matrix proteins include fibronectin
and laminin (adherence proteins), elastin (imparts elastic
properties), collagen (structural support), and hyaluronic acid
(a glycosaminoglycan that is rich in the joints and the matrix
and provides cushioning through hydration of its polysaccharides). A number of adhesin genes have been determined and
include genes encoding fibrinogen binding proteins (fib, cflA,
and fbpA) (17, 27, 105), fibronectin binding proteins (fnbA and
fnbB) (76), a collagen receptor (cna) (126), an elastin binding
protein (ebpS) (124), and a broad-specificity adhesin (map)
that mediates low-level binding of several proteins including
osteopontin, collagen, bone sialoprotein, vitronectin, fibronectin, and fibrinogen (106). Also, S. aureus possesses a number of
other host protein binding receptors whose genes have not yet
been determined. These include a laminin binding protein (52
kDa) (99), a lactoferrin binding protein (450 kDa) (114), and
a transferrin binding protein (42 kDa) (112). The staphylococcal receptor that binds laminin may be used in extravasation
(100). These receptors specific to S. aureus were absent from
the noninvasive pathogen S. epidermidis (100). The lactoferrin
and transferrin receptors bind to host iron acquisition proteins
and may be used as adhesins and/or as iron acquisition mechanisms.
Increasing evidence supports the importance of staphylococcal surface components as virulence determinants by enabling
initial colonization. In a number of studies, mutations in these
receptors strongly reduced the ability of staphylococci to produce infection. In a murine septic arthritis model, inoculation
of mice with mutants containing mutations of the collagen
adhesin gene showed that septic arthritis occurred 43% less
often than in the corresponding wild type (166). Also, vaccination with a recombinant fragment of the S. aureus collagen
adhesin was able to reduce the sepsis-induced mortality rate to
13%, compared with 87% in the control group (120). However,
the role of collagen adhesion of S. aureus as a major virulence
factor has recently been questioned since approximately 30 to
60% of clinical isolates do not display collagen binding in vitro
or the cna-encoded collagen adhesin (170). Staphyloccal fibronectin binding proteins (FbpA and FbpB) may play a major
role in the colonization and virulence of septic arthritis. In a
recent study, all of the tested clinical isolates (n ⫽ 163) contained one or both of the coding regions for these binding
proteins and 95% of these strains had a comparable fibronectin
binding capacity to that seen in a staphylococcal reference
strain known to efficiently bind fibronectin (127). In addition,
an in vivo study of endocarditis in a rat model showed that
mutants deficient for fibronectin binding protein were 250-fold
less adherent to traumatized heart valves (90). Also, S. aureus
adherence to miniplates from iliac bones of guinea pigs was
three times higher for the wild-type strain than for the adhesindefective mutant strain (48). It is likely fibronectin binding
proteins play an important role in joint infections, especially
ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
530
SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
surrounding soft tissue, form sinus tracts, and disrupt ligaments and tendons in the untreated state (137).
Bacterial products and their pathogenic role. While bacterial attachment proteins promote colonization and initiate the
infectious process, a number of bacterial products activate the
host immune response and increase tissue damage in cases of
septic arthritis. S. aureus has a large variety of factors that have
been implicated in host virulence. Many of these factors have
been tested for their ability to increase the morbidity and
mortality associated with acute septic arthritis. Most studies
evaluating the potential role of these bacterial products have
been performed using the murine model of septic arthritis
(167).
During acute septic arthritis, the innate immune system responds to the presence of the peptidoglycan wall (via N-formylmethionine proteins and teichoic acids) of S. aureus to produce
proinflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1␤, IL-6, and TNF-␣)
and C-reactive protein. Bacterial DNA (specifically unmethylated CpG motifs) also elicits an intense inflammatory response
(37, 38). When bacterial DNA from S. aureus or E. coli or
synthetic, unmethylated oligonucleotides containing CpG motifs were injected into the knee joint of mice, arthritis developed quickly and lasted up to 14 days, while methylated DNA
had no significant effect. Also, the affected tissue was characterized by monocyte and macrophage influx with the release of
their associated cytokines and chemokines and the absence of
T cells.
It has been noted that bacterial superantigens such as staphylococcal TSST-1 and enterotoxins may play a major role in the
potent activation of the host inflammatory response, thereby
increasing the mortality rates and exacerbating host inflammatory-cell invasion, cytokine release, and joint degradation (20).
Most animals infected with strains of S. aureus isogenic for
TSST-1 or enterotoxins (A through D) developed frequent and
severe arthritis (20). However, most animals (80%) infected
with strains devoid of these toxins had no symptoms and the
animals with symptoms had only mild or transient arthritis
infections (20). Also, vaccination with a recombinant form of
staphylococcal enterotoxin A devoid of superantigenicity was
able to generate significant protection from S. aureus sepsis in
mice (121).
Superantigens act by binding to the conserved lateral regions
of the host major histocompatibility complex class II molecule
and T-cell receptor. While only approximately 1 in 10 4 T cells
are activated during normal presentation of a nonself antigen,
a superantigen may activate 2 to 20% of all T cells (154). These
activated T cells are then able to increase the release of a
number of cytokines, such as IL-2 (154), IFN-␥, and TNF-␣
(98). This upregulated production of cytokines causes a significant systemic toxicity and suppression of the adaptive immune
responses and inhibits plasma cell differentiation. Also, the
stimulated T cells proliferate and then rapidly disappear, apparently due to apoptosis (132). Therefore, immune suppression may be due to generalized immunosuppression and T-cell
deletion. Human B cells are also stimulated by these staphylococcal superantigens.
Besides the role that superantigens play in the mortality and
morbidity associated with septic arthritis, other staphylococcal
toxins may also contribute to the disease process. One study
was able to demonstrate that alpha-hemolysin was a significant
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oxide, a common mediator of inflammatory cytokines, is also
required (143).
The T-cell mediated (Th1) and humoral (Th2) adaptive immune responses may also play a role in the clearance and/or
pathogenesis of acute septic arthritis. T cells enter the joint
within a few days following infection (1). The role of CD4 ⫹ T
cells in joint destruction has been demonstrated by showing
that their in vivo depletion resulted in a considerably milder
course of staphylococcal arthritis (1). These lymphocytes are
specifically activated by bacterial antigens in association with
host antigen-presenting cells or nonspecifically in the case of
bacterial superantigens (e.g., toxic shock syndrome toxin 1
[TSST-1]). The cytokine, gamma interferon (IFN-␥), produced
by these activated T cells reduced the level of mortality and
joint destruction in a mouse model of group B Streptococcus
when delivered 18 h after bacterial inoculation (129). However, when S. aureus was used as the infecting organism in this
model, IFN-␥ increased the frequency and severity of septic
arthritis while simultaneously protecting mice from septicemia
(194). Also, it has been found in a recent study in mice that a
high level of IFN-␥ (a Th1 cytokine) plays a detrimental role in
staphylococcal infection and that IL-4 and IL-10, both being
Th2 cytokines, are involved in host resistance to infection
through regulation of IFN-␥ (150). However, the necessity of
the Th2 response to clear S. aureus infection has lately been
questioned in a study utilizing IL-4-deficient mice (73). It
seems that a Th2 response is required for S. aureus infection
clearance only in certain mice, depending on their genetic
background. Therefore, the exact role of T cells in host tissue
damage and infection clearance is still being elucidated.
Joint damage. Under most circumstances, the host is able to
mount a protective inflammatory response that contains the
invading pathogen and resolves the infection. However, when
the infection is not quickly cleared by the host, the potent
activation of the immune response with the associated high
levels of cytokines and reactive oxygen species leads to joint
destruction. High cytokine concentrations increase the release
of host matrix metalloproteinases (including stromelysin and
gelatinase A/B) and other collagen-degrading enzymes. When
monoclonal antibodies or steroids attenuate these cytokines,
cartilage degradation is minimized. The joint is further damaged by the release of lysosomal enzymes and bacterial toxins
(139). Host proteoglycans are initially degraded, and this is
followed by collagen degradation. In fact, the polymorphonuclear response with subsequent release of these proteolytic
enzymes can lead to permanent destruction of intra-articular
cartilage and subchondral bone loss in as little as 3 days. Metalloproteinases and the antigen-induced inflammatory response may persist and continue to damage the joint architecture even after the infection has been cleared (134, 162). The
infectious process induces a joint effusion that increases intraarticular pressure, mechanically impeding blood and nutrient
supply to the joint. Thus, increased pressure destroys the synovium and cartilage. Because of the proximity of the epiphyseal growth plate to the joint, direct extension of a joint
infection to any of the articulating bones may lead to decreased
bone growth in infants and children (87, 117). While bone
mineralization is preserved, cartilage destruction causes joint
space narrowing and erosive damage to the cartilage and bone
if left untreated (110). In addition, the infection can spread to
CLIN. MICROBIOL. REV.
VOL. 15, 2002
531
and the ability of the immune system to recognize the pathogen as nonself is hindered. The importance of protein A in S.
aureus septic arthritis was demonstrated in a recent study in
which strains that obtained this virulence factor caused greater
inflammation and cartilage destruction (53).
Capsular polysaccharide may interfere with opsonization
and phagocytosis. Among the 11 reported serotypes, capsule
types 5 and 8 (microcapsule producers) comprise the vast majority (75 to 94%) of clinical isolates (2, 44, 115). The capsule
of these two serotypes is much smaller than the capsule of
other serotypes of S. aureus (such as capsule type 1) or pathogenic species such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. Unencapsulated and microencapsulated strains demonstrated a high rate
of serum clearance compared to fully encapsulated strains.
Therefore, the role of capsular polysaccharide in opsonization
and phagocytosis was questioned (2). However, the thin capsule may be necessary in early bone infection stages in order to
allow the interaction of staphylococcal adhesion factors with
host proteins (such as fibrin and fibronectin). In one study, it
was shown that a small capsule was necessary for fibroblast
attachment by protein A of S. aureus and that a fully encapsulated strain reduced the binding efficiency (104). In another
study, the thin capsule was shown to be necessary for binding
to bone collagen type 1, since high capsular expression actually
inhibited binding (23). Once these microorganisms adhere to
solid surfaces (such as bone), both in vitro and in vivo, staphylococci produce larger quantities of cell-associated capsule
than do those grown in liquid cultures (95). Specifically, type 5
and type 8 capsule production is strongly upregulated during
postexponential growth (i.e., after adhesion and colonization)
(177). This upregulated capsule production makes them resistant to antimicrobial treatment and host immune clearance.
Therefore, once staphylococcal adherence proteins establish
the infection, the pathogen enters the postexponential growth
phase and begins producing a thicker capsule that covers and
hides the highly immunogenic adherence proteins. This thicker
type 5 and type 8 capsule is serum resistant through inhibition
of phagocytosis and opsonization (2, 119). The effect of the
staphylococcal polysaccharide microcapsule in murine arthritis
was recently explored. In this study, strains expressing type 5
capsule were shown to cause a higher rate of mortality, a
higher frequency of arthritis, and a more severe form of the
disease compared to capsule mutants (119). In a clinical trial,
a vaccine (Staph Vax) that consists of isolated type 5 and 8
capsular polysaccharides was able to significantly reduce infection rates (by 57%) in a high-risk population for as long as 10
months (179).
As mentioned above, S. aureus also survives intracellularly
after internalization by cultured osteoblasts (72). Type 5 capsule production by in vivo-grown S. aureus (i.e., internalized in
cultured osteoblasts) was recently shown to be upregulated
compared to that by S. aureus grown in vitro (101). Therefore,
the capsule may not only resist phagocytosis and opsonization
but may also contribute to intracellular survival.
In summary, S. aureus infects and elicits a strong native
immune response, cytokine release, and high T-cell activation.
This pathogen is able to use a number of immunoavoidance
strategies during this time while the host immune system simultaneously causes damage to “self” tissues and blood vessels
in the area of infection. This damage may cause local circula-
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mediator of virulence in arthritis (53). Alpha-hemolysin is secreted as a monomer that attaches to host membranes and
polymerizes into a hexameric ring channel (174). While this
hemolysin binds to human erythrocytes in a nonspecific manner, it can still mediate significant host cell lysis when produced
in high concentrations in the infection environment (69). Also,
alpha-hemolysin promotes significant blood coagulation by
neutrophil adhesion (85), platelet aggregation (via a fibrinogen-dependent mechanism) (11), and its nonlytic attack on
human platelets (6). In addition, this hemolysin can form channels in nucleated cells (e.g., endothelial cells) through which
calcium ions freely pass (62, 175). The calcium influx is responsible for the vasoregulatory process and inflammatory- response disturbances seen in severe infection (66). Lastly, alpha-hemolysin interferes with lymphocyte DNA replication
(85). These multiple effects of alpha-hemolysin on the host
contribute to the vascular disturbances and immunodeficiency
seen in staphylococcal infections.
The pathogenic properties of alpha-hemolysin were recently
found to only occur when another staphylococcal toxin, the
leukocyte-specific gamma-toxin, was also present in the infecting strain (118). Gamma-hemolysin (HlgAB and HlgCB) and a
related S. aureus leukocidin (LukSF-PV) specifically lyse leukocytes. Each of these toxins is composed of an interchangeable two-component system. The active toxin is formed by
taking one protein from the S-component family (LukS-PV,
HlgA, and HlgC) and one from the F-component family
(LukF-PV and HlgB) (46, 89). The S component is most probably responsible for the specific cytopathic effect of each of the
toxins, while the F component is responsible for the common
leukocyte binding activity. While LukF and HlgA proteins
show very strong similarity, they are encoded on different gene
loci (128). Since these cytotoxins specifically interact and lyse
leukocytes, they contribute to the inhibition of infection clearance by the host immune system, thereby enabling staphylococcal species to persist. Therefore, it is the combined effects
of the hemolysin and leukotoxins that increase the ability of S.
aureus to cause acute septic arthritis.
These factors enable the host to mount a protective inflammatory response that contains this pathogen and often resolves
the infection. However, when the infection is not cleared by the
host innate immune system, S. aureus is well equipped to persist by possessing a number of virulence factors and strategies,
including but not limited to invading and surviving in mammalian cells, hiding within a biofilm, or producing a thick, antiphagocytic capsule.
The difficulty in treating septic arthritis and the ability of the
bacteria to evade clearance by the host immune response reside in a number of staphylococcal defense mechanisms. Such
characteristics are expressed at both the cellular and matrical
levels. As mentioned above, protein A is bound covalently to
the outer peptidoglycan layer of their cell walls. This receptor
binds to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G and presents the
Fab fragment of the antibody to the external environment.
Therefore, the Fc portion is unable to either bind complement
or signal polymorphonuclear leukocytes, thereby interfering
with staphylococcal opsonization and phagocytosis. This interference has been demonstrated in vitro and in animal models
with subcutaneous abscesses and peritonitis. Also, protein A
coats the staphylococcal cell in a coat of host Fab fragments,
ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
532
SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
Gonococcal Arthritis
Gonococcal arthritis occurs in approximately 42 to 85% of
patients with disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) and
begins with a localized mucosal infection (4, 122). DGI-producing strains are unusually sensitive to in vitro killing by
penicillin G and possess unique nutritional requirements for
arginine, hypoxanthine, and uracil. N. gonorrhoeae possesses a
number of virulence factors. It is the combined effects of these
factors, their phase and antigenic variation, and properties of
the host immune response that enable this pathogen to persist
and allow the localized infection to become DGI.
Gonococcal virulence factors. N. gonorrhoeae possesses a
number of cell surface structures that have been implicated in
virulence. Initial attachment to host epithelium is mediated by
long, hair-like protein projections called pili Phase variation,
i.e., the question of whether this membrane structure is assembled (Pil ⫹) or not (Pil ⫺), is determined by posttranslational
proteolytic cleavage, variations in homologous recombination,
and slipped-strand DNA replication resulting in frameshift
mutations (193). In addition, the antigenic character of the pili
is altered by homologous recombination between coding regions for the various pilin subunits.
Protein I is the main protein on the outer membrane. It is a
porin that is expressed in two different forms, a protein IA
variant that is almost always associated with disseminated infection and a protein IB variant that is associated with strains
causing localized infections. Strains that are able to cause a
disseminated infection in hosts with a normal immune system
display serum resistance (21). Protein IA enables stable serum
resistance by binding the host factor H. This bacterially- bound
host factor efficiently inactivates C3b (a central factor in both
the classical and alternative complement cascades) into iC3b
(130), thereby reducing the efficacy of the host complement
system. This porin may also be responsible for the prevention
of phagolysosomal fusion in polymorphonuclear leukocytes
and a reduced oxidative burst, thereby enabling survival within
these cells. Another extracellular gonococcal protein is protein
II, which is also called Opa since colonies expressing protein II
on their surface have a more opaque appearance. This protein
is thought to cooperate in the more intimate attachment following initial pilus interaction. In addition, protein II is able to
attach to the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of other N. gonorrhoeae organisms, thereby enabling the cells to bind to one
other and form microcolonies. These microcolonies may also
aid in the initiation of mucosal surface attachment. Protein II
is capable of avoiding clearance by the host immune system by
phase and antigenic variation (93). Phase variation occurs
through slipped-strand synthesis that produces a frameshift
mutation and produces a prematurely terminated form of the
protein. In addition, multiple variants of the protein II gene
exist, and therefore the antigenic character of protein II can be
changed by homologous recombination between these variants. While this protein is important for mucosal infections,
most isolates from patients with DGI are missing protein II
from their outer membrane and grow to form transparent
colonies. Protein III is another porin that is prevalent on the
bacterial surface. The antibodies directed against protein III
are not bactericidal, and they sterically inhibit antibody binding
to protein I and unsialylated LOS that would probably result in
bactericidal action (133). Therefore, the generation of these
blocking antibodies may prevent serum bactericidal action.
LOS is like the lipopolysaccharide of other gram-negative
bacteria except that its carbohydrate portion does not have the
complex structure of the repeating O side chain. LOS has
endotoxin activity and is largely responsible for the synovial
damage produced in gonococcal arthritis (60, 64). While stable
serum resistance is due to protein IA, unstable resistance is
mediated by the ability of some gonococcal strains to covalently attach activated forms of host sialic acid to the galactose residues on LOS (187). This covalent attachment coats the
bacterial cell in host proteins and avoids complement activation. In addition, opsonization by complement components
and the formation of the membrane attack complex of the
complement system are inhibited. N. gonorrhoeae also produces an immunoglobulin A protease that may aid in colonization. However, the relevance of this potential virulence factor in gonococcal pathogenesis needs further study.
Host factors. The host may contain a gonococcal infection
through the action of the innate immune response, with particular dependence on the complement system. This system is
largely responsible for attracting polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the resulting cascade of inflammatory cytokines and
chemokines. However, during periods surrounding early pregnancy, puerperium, and menstruation, the accompanying alterations in vaginal pH, cervical mucus, and genital flora and
the endometrial exposure of submucosal vessels may predispose the female patient to N. gonorrhoeae invasion and DGI
(21, 122). As mentioned above, defects in the complement
and/or reticuloendothelial systems may also inhibit the host’s
ability to contain gonococcal infection.
RISK FACTORS
Besides the obvious risk of septic arthritis associated with
age older than 60 years and recent bacteremia, certain medical
conditions predispose joints to nongonococcal infection. Degenerative joint disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and corticosteroid therapy are the most common predisposing conditions.
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tory and immune system compromise. The high T-cell activation eventually results in apoptosis and a weakened immune
system, enabling the pathogen to effectively produce a sustained and destructive infection. While the bacterial products
discussed above have been shown to increase joint damage in
acute septic arthritis, many more S. aureus virulence factors
have not yet been tested. Therefore, we would expect that
number of factors implicated as playing a role in septic arthritis
would undoubtedly increase, and their relative roles will be
more clearly elucidated in future studies.
Bacterial clearance versus joint damage. The interaction of
the bacteria and host is of utmost importance in the initiation
and prolongation of infection and cartilage damage. There is a
subtle balance between an effective immune response to eliminate the infecting organism from the host and the overactivation of this response that causes the majority of infectionrelated joint destruction. Therefore, care must be exercised
and further studies must be performed in regard to using
agents that suppress the inflammatory response in the treatment of septic arthritis.
CLIN. MICROBIOL. REV.
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ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
DIAGNOSIS OF NONGONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS
Nongonococcal septic arthritis is a medical emergency that
can lead to serious sequelae and mortality. Therefore, prompt
recognition and treatment are critical to ensuring a good prognosis.
Clinical Presentation
The classical presentation of acute nongonococcal septic
arthritis includes recent onset of fever, malaise, and local findings of pain, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion
in the involved joint (87, 117). A significant number of patients
have mild fever and may not demonstrate localized heat and
erythema around the affected joint (10). The clinician should
obtain a detailed history with special emphasis on determining
the presence of any risk factors discussed above. However, the
diagnosis of infectious arthritis rests on the isolation of the
pathogen(s) from aspirated joint fluid.
While any joint can become infected, the most commonly
involved joints in nongonococcal septic arthritis are the knee
and hip, followed by the shoulder and ankle (9). The hip may
be more frequently involved in children. Also, infectious nongonococcal arthritis is monoarticular in 80 to 90% of cases (70,
75, 156). Atypical joint infection, including the sternoclavicular, costochondral, and sacroiliac joints, may be common in
intravenous drug users. Also, penetrating trauma, including
human or animal bites, and local corticosteroid therapy may
cause septic arthritis in atypical joints. Polyarticular septic arthritis is usually accompanied by a number of risk factors (see
above).
Laboratory Findings
Peripheral blood leukocyte counts are usually elevated in
children but are often within normal limits in adults. Most
patients display elevated C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Synovial fluid analysis is also very
important and usually reveals turbid, low-viscosity fluid with
leukocyte counts usually in excess of 50,000/mm3. However,
nonbacterial inflammatory processes, such as acute crystalline
joint disease or reactive arthritis, may have counts above this
level while gonococcal and granulomatous arthritis may have
counts below 50,000/mm3. In nongonococcal arthritis, the fraction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes approaches 90% (59,
158). Even though low joint fluid glucose levels (⬍40 mg/dl or
less than half the serum glucose concentration) and high lactate levels are nonspecific, they are suspicious for bacterial
arthritis. Normal joint glucose and lactate levels are usually
found in patients with viral arthritis (156, 158). Synovial fluid
from any adult with monarticular arthritis should be examined
by compensated polarizing light microscopy for negatively birefringent (uric acid) and positively birefringent (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate) crystals in order to rule out crystalline
joint disease. However, simultaneous bacterial infection and
crystalline disease has been reported (8, 158). Gram stains of
synovial fluids may support the diagnosis of septic arthritis. In
addition, it may differentiate between infections by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, thereby directing initial antimicrobial therapy before antibiotic sensitivity results are obtained. The synovial fluid should be sent for aerobic,
anaerobic, mycobacterial, and fungal culture prior to the initiation of antimicrobial therapy. In addition, antibiotic sensitivities should be determined. Cultures are positive in nongonococcal arthritis approximately 90% of the time, while
Gram stain is effective only 50% of the time (141). These
cultures may be negative in patients in whom treatment has
already been initiated.
Once aspirated joint samples are obtained, it is imperative
that they be quickly transported to clinical microbiology and
not be allowed to stand for a long time without processing or
culturing. In one study, it was found that by directly inoculating
the aspirated sample into blood culture tubes, even very small
numbers of viable bacteria in infected fluid could be detected
(182). However, an increase in false-positive results due to
general skin or other contaminants may also occur with this
technique. If fluid cultures are sterile but the suspicion of
septic arthritis persists, tissue samples of the synovial membrane may also be cultured for microbial isolation and identification. Sputum, urine, and blood cultures are also often required. Around half of all patients with nongonococcal
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Specifically, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an approximately 10-fold-higher incidence of septic arthritis than does
the general population (79, 113). Patients with diabetes mellitus, leukemia, cirrhosis, granulomatous diseases, cancer, hypogammaglobulinemia, intravenous substance abuse, or renal
disease and patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy also
have an increased incidence of septic arthritis (3, 39, 140).
Total joint arthroplasties are susceptible to intraoperative or
hematogenous seeding and subsequent prosthetic joint infections. While patients infected with HIV demonstrate a higher
prevalence of musculoskeletal infections than does the general
population (approximately 60 and 2 to 10 cases per 100,000
persons per year, respectively), it is unclear if this higher occurrence is due to the common septic arthritis risk factors due
to intravenous drug abuse and multiple transfusions in this
patient population (79, 113, 178).
In 0.5 to 3% of gonorrhea infections, the pathogen is able to
gain access to the bloodstream from the primary mucosal site
of infection and produce DGI (71, 84, 122). A number of risk
factors have been epidemiologically associated with the development of DGI; these include infection with transparent, piliated N. gonorrhoeae strains capable of phase variation; diagnosis delay (especially in females due to asymptomatic nature
of the infection); complement system deficiency; systemic lupus erythematosus; menstration, pregnancy, and puerperium;
male homosexuality; urban residence; promiscuity; and low
socioeconomic and educational status. Females are four times
as likely to develop DGI as males (4). This prevalence in
women may be due to the asymptomatic nature of gonorrhea
infections in women and the associated delay in diagnosis,
thereby providing time for the bacteria to gain access to the
bloodstream. In addition, many affected females are either
pregnant or menstruating at the time of the infection (122).
Also, since the clearance of gonococcal infection depends on
an effective complement-mediated immunity and a functional
reticuloendothelial system, complement deficiencies and systemic lupus erythematosus are risk factors in this patient subset.
533
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SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
TABLE 1. Principles of diagnosis and management of acute
nongonococcal septic arthritis
Indicators at presentation
Recent onset of fever and malaise
Local pain, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion in
the involved joint
The presence of any risk factors as determined by a detailed
history
Other laboratory indicators
May have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive
protein levels, and/or peripheral leukocyte levels
Sputum, urine, and blood cultures may be warranted; blood
cultures are positive in 50% of cases
Management
Antibiotics adjusted based on culture and sensitivity results
Adequate drainage of joint
Needle aspiration
Arthroscopic drainage
Open drainage in difficult and deep joints
Monitoring of synovial fluid leukocyte counts and cultures
Acute phase of disease — patient rest and optimal joint position
Following the acute phase — early physical therapy and
aggressive mobilization
arthritis show positive blood cultures (59). A summary of the
diagnosis and management of acute nongonococcal arthritis
can be seen in Table 1.
Imaging Studies
Imaging studies of septic arthritis can be used only to support or dissuade a clinical suspicion of the disease; they should
not be used as an absolute diagnostic indicator. Because the
approaches and techniques are both numerous and diverse,
there is confusion about which technique is most effective.
Radiographic images are usually not revealing in the first few
days of infection since they are usually normal or show only
preexisting joint disease. However, swelling of capsule and soft
tissue around the affected joint, fat pad displacement, and in
some cases joint space widening due to localized edema and
effusion may be seen. Also, the initial radiographic image may
be used to determine associated conditions, such as osteoarthritis or simultaneous osteomyelitis, or may be used as a
baseline image in monitoring the response to treatment. As the
infection progresses, radiographic detection of diffuse joint
space narrowing due to cartilage destruction is possible. Radiographs can also evaluate late, inadequately treated stages of
septic arthritis in which generalized joint destruction, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis, joint fusion, calcifications in the periarticular tissues, or subchondral bone loss followed by reactive
sclerosis are seen.
Ultrasonography is capable of showing both intra- and extra-
articular abnormalities not apparent by plain radiography and
is a very powerful tool to detect early fluid effusions and to
guide initial joint aspiration and drainage procedures (157,
195). Even small collections of fluid (1 to 2 ml) can be accurately detected (195). Non-echo-free effusions (due to clotted
hemorrhagic collections) are very characteristic of a septic
joint. It has been suggested that the presence of only an echofree effusion (caused by transient synovitis and fresh hemorrhagic effusions) may rule out the diagnosis of septic arthritis
(195). This imaging technique is also useful for detecting collections of fluids in deep joints, including the hip. In addition,
the status of the intra-articular compartment, joint capsule,
bony surface, and adjacent soft tissues and the patient’s response to therapy can be monitored. Since ultrasonography is
also noninvasive, inexpensive, easy to use, and devoid of irradiation or any other known complications, more clinicians
should use it in the diagnosis of septic arthritis in the future.
To diagnose ambiguous cases of septic arthritis or to determine the extent of bone and soft tissue infections, computed
tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
radionuclide scans may be obtained. In most cases, these diagnostic tests are not required for septic arthritis.
Like radiographs, CT scans have limited use during the early
stages of septic arthritis. However, they may enable the visualization of joint effusion, soft tissue swelling, and para-articular abscesses. In addition, CT is more sensitive than plain
radiography in the imaging of joint space widening due to
localized edema, bone erosions, foci of osteitis, and scleroses.
This scanning technique may be useful in the diagnoses of
arthritis cases that are difficult to assess, including infections of
the hip, sacroiliac, and sternoclavicular joints. In addition, it
may assist in guiding joint aspiration, selecting the surgical
approach, and monitoring therapy in these difficult infections
(155).
MRI has become a useful diagnostic tool for the early determination of musculoskeletal infection and its extent (111,
169). As with CT, MRI may be particularly useful in aiding the
diagnosis of joint infections that are difficult to access, such as
sacroiliitis (145). MRI displays greater resolution for soft tissue
abnormalities than CT or radiography and greater anatomical
detail than radionuclide scans. The spatial resolution of MRI
makes it useful in visualizing joint effusion and differentiating
between bone and soft tissue infections. Furthermore, patients
do not have to be exposed to ionizing radiation. The main
disadvantages to MRI are high cost, lack of universal availability, imaging interference due to metal implants, and lower
resolution of calcified bone structures and the cortex (43).
Initial MRI screening usually consists of a T1-weighted and
T2-weighted spin-echo pulse sequence. In a T1-weighted study,
edema and fluid are dark while fat is bright. In a T2-weighted
study, the reverse is true. Therefore, joint effusions, abscesses,
and soft tissue edema generate a high signal on T2-weighted
images. As with the other imaging techniques, MRI is nonspecific and is unable to differentiate between infectious and noninfectious inflammatory arthropathies (63).
Radionuclide scans are often able to detect localized areas
of inflammation. The 99mTc methyldiphosphonate scan demonstrates increases isotope accumulation in areas of osteoblast
activity and increased vascularity (138). However, this radionuclide scan may be normal in the early stages of septic arthri-
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Diagnosis by synovial fluid testing
Synovial culture and Gram stain
Leukocyte counts in excess of 50,000/mm3
Glucose level of ⬍40 mg/dl or less than half that seen in the
serum
High concentration of lactate
⬎90% polymorphonuclear leukocytes
Lack of bifringent crystals (Note: simultaneous crystalline and
bacterial arthritis has been reported)
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ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
Differential Diagnosis
Preexisting joint infection. A number of associated arthropathies should be considered in the differential diagnosis of
acute septic arthritis. Patients with underlying chronic joint
disease (including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and
other connective tissue diseases) have a poor prognosis when
suffering from acute septic arthritis (41). The poor prognosis
associated with this patient population is mainly due to diagnostic delays since clinicians incorrectly ascribe symptoms to
the preexisting arthropathy (55). Also, these patients are often
afebrile and demonstrate an indolent presentation (56). Therefore, a diagnosis of septic arthritis must be entertained whenever a sudden onset of inflammatory arthritis in one or two
joints occurs in these patients.
Endocarditis. Patients with infective endocarditis also demonstrate relatively high incidence rates (23 to 44%) of musculoskeletal abnormalities (61, 96, 109, 135, 148, 171). Specifically, many of these patients have sterile myalgias and
althragias, and the joint symptoms are usually polyarticular
and symmetric, affecting both the large and small joints. In
addition, septic arthritis is seen in approximately 5 to 15% of
these patients, especially in intravenous drug abusers. Cases of
endocarditis-associated septic arthropathies are usually mediated by Streptococcus spp. or S. aureus.
Chronic infectious arthritis. The diagnosis of mycobacterial
or fungal arthritis should be entertained when a patient presents with chronic monarticular arthritis. Both of these arthritides have increased in prevalence, largely due to increased
incidence rates seen in HIV-infected patients (56, 141). Synovial fluid cultures for acid-fast bacteria and fungi should be
considered for any patient who is immunocompromised or
receiving immunosuppressive therapy or who has a persistent
effusion. A culture of a synovial biopsy specimen should be
done for fungi and acid-fast organisms in any person with a
chronic monarticular involvement whose synovial fluid cultures
are negative (32, 52). In mycobacterial arthritis, macrophages
may predominate in the synovial fluids. The delayed onset and
insidious progression of this disease are markedly different
from those of acute septic arthritis. Therefore, a thorough
history of the illness in the patient, appropriate culture, and
monitoring of clinical progression should provide reasonable
clues to distinguish acute infectious joint arthropathies from
cases of fungal or mycobacterial arthritis. Lyme disease may
also present with chronic monoarticular arthritis. About 60%
of untreated patients with Lyme disease in the United States
have intermittent attacks of joint swelling and pain, especially
in the knee, even months after the onset of illness (164).
Demonstration of the typical and slowly expanding erythema
migrans skin lesion at the site of the tick bite and the development of influenza-like symptoms (including malaise, fatigue,
headache, fever, regional lymphadenopathy, and migratory
polyarthragia) lasting weeks to months are highly indicative of
Lyme disease (165). This is especially true in patients living in
areas where this disease is endemic. While culture of Borellia
burgdorferi (the spirochete responsible for Lyme disease) from
specimens in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium permits a definitive diagnosis, determination of an antibody response to B.
burgdorferi by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is also possible (24, 165). Mycoplasma spp. have also been repeatedly
isolated in cases of chronic erosive septic arthritis, particularly
in patients suffering from hypogammaglobulinemia (51).
Viral arthritis. Patients with viral arthritis usually present
with polyarthritis, fever, lymphadenopathy and characteristic
rash (56). Also, synovial fluid samples reveal an abundant
presence of mononuclear leukocytes, and normal joint glucose
and lactate levels are usually found (156, 158). Clinical and
epidemiological clues often lead the clinician to perform appropriate serological studies via antibody titers.
Crystal-induced arthritis. Gout and pseudogout may mimic
many of the symptoms associated with septic arthritis. Therefore, synovial fluid samples should be examined by compensated polarizing light microscopy for the presence of negatively
birefringent (uric acid) and positively birefringent (calcium
pyrophosphate dihydrate) crystals to rule out crystalline joint
disease. However, it must be noted that simultaneous bacterial
infection and crystalline disease has been reported (8, 158).
Reactive arthritis. An inflammatory joint response to extraarticular rather than intra-articlar presence of microorganisms
may be defined as reactive arthritis (168). Therefore, while
infection can be demonstrated at a distant site, joint inflammation occurs without traditional evidence of sepsis at the
affected joint(s). Most cases are associated with patients with
the major histocompatibility complex antigen HLA-B27. Also,
patients usually have recent microbial infections in distal sites
that include the gastrointestinal (e.g., Shigella spp., Salmonella
spp., Campylobacter spp., or Yersinia spp.), genitourinary (e.g.,
chlamydiae and mycoplasmas), and respiratory (e.g., Streptococcus pyogenes) tracts (83). Patients present with a sterile,
inflamed joint and may also demonstrate enthesopathy, uveitis,
conjunctivitis, or skin and mucous membrane lesions (56). Specifically, poststreptococcal reactive arthritis can follow group A
streptococcal infection and presents with nonmigratory arthritis, lack of response to aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and the presence of extra-articular manifestations,
including vasculitis and glomerulonephritis (7).
Recent studies utilizing immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical, and PCR techniques have detected persistent micro-
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tis. A second class of radiopharmaceuticals used for the evaluation of septic arthritis includes 67Ga citrate and 111In
chloride scans. 67Ga citrate and 111In chloride attach to serum
proteins, including transferrin, lactoferrin, haptoglobin, and
albumin, that leak from the bloodstream into areas of inflammation. Gallium and indium scans also show increased isotope
uptake in areas of concentrated polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages, and malignant tumors. While these scans
are more specific and sensitive in the detection of active infection than 99mTc methyldiphosphonate (15), they do not show
bone or joint detail well, and it is often difficult to distinguish
between bone, joint, and soft tissue inflammation. Three-phase
99m
Tc methyldiphosphonate scans may help resolve this problem. In 111In-labeled leukocyte scanning, a sample of the patient’s leukocytes is isolated, labeled with 111In, and injected
back into the patient. These radiolabeled leukocytes localize
into areas of acute infection according to host inflammatory
cytokine and chemokine gradients. While this scan is positive
in approximately 60% of patients with septic arthritis, falsepositive results may occur in patients with synovitis secondary
to active osteoarthritis (172).
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SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
bial antigens within joints affected with reactive arthritis (168).
These results may be explained by one hypothesis that describes the presence of bacteria and/or their antigens as a
reflection of the persistence of small numbers of latent nonculturable microbes in the joint space. This hypothesis may be
valid in specific cases (e.g., chlamydia-triggered reactive arthritis), since the early administration of tetracycline therapy may
reduce the length of disease and the associated articular damage (173). However, antibiotics are usually ineffective, especially when given at later stages of reactive arthritis. Therefore,
another hypothesis is that the detection of microbial products
may just reflect the natural filtering action of the synovium and
the subsequent concentration of these products, thereby stimulating inflammation.
Clinical Presentation
Gonococcal arthritis may present as part of a disseminated
infection or as arthritis (36) and usually affects young, healthy,
and sexually active individuals. It is important to obtain a
complete patient history in order to identify the presence of
individual risk factors (a full list of potential risk factors for
DGI is given in “Risk Factors” above). The presenting symptoms in DGI may include migratory arthralgias, moderate fever, chills, dermatitis, and tenosynovitis. The large majority of
these patients have asymptomatic genital, anal, or pharyngeal
gonococcal infections (122). The classic skin lesion manifests
as small erythematous papules which progress to vesicular or
pustular lesions and are often limited to the extremities and
the trunk. If the papules are present on the affected joint, there
are typically 5 to 10 lesions. The tenosynovitis is characterized
by pain, swelling, and periarticular erythema.
Some patients develop septic gonococcal arthritis without
prior polyarthralgia, tenosynovitis, or dermatitis. In fact, while
most patients with DGI present with tenosynovitis, only 21%
of patients with confirmed suppurative arthritis display this
clinical sign (122). Therefore, properties of the host and the
serological properties of the infecting N. gonorrhoeae strain
may be responsible for determining whether the DGI will
result in tenosynovitis and dermatitis or will produce arthritis.
In the absence of the characteristic dermatitis or overt genital
infection, septic gonococcal arthritis is often clinically indistinguishable from other forms of septic arthritis (10, 159).
In contrast to nongonococcal arthritis, distal joints including
the fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles are most often
affected in gonococcal arthritis. Also, migratory asymmetric
joint pain followed by polyarticular infection is common in this
patient population.
Laboratory Findings
Peripheral leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates are present in more than half of these patients. Also,
N. gonorrhoeae is isolated from synovial cultures in only approximately 50% of patients with gonococcal arthritis, and
Gram stains are even less reliable (122, 188). Therefore, there
is a high dependence on clinical presentation, accurate history,
and positive cultures from affected sites for the diagnosis of
this disease. Cultures derived from the uterine endocervix are
positive in approximately 90% of women, while urethral, pharyngeal, and rectal mucosal cultures are positive in approximately 50 to 75, 20, and 15% of men, respectively. Blood and
skin lesion cultures are rarely positive. It is extremely important for the bedside clinician to be aware of the specific requirements for correctly culturing N. gonorrhoeae from patient
samples. Briefly, blood and synovial fluid samples should be
plated immediately on prewarmed chocolate agar while genitourinary, rectal, and pharyngeal samples should be plated on
prewarmed Thayer-Martin or modified New York medium
with appropriate antibiotic supplementation (31). The plates
should then be incubated at 37°C in a moist 5% CO 2 environment within 15 min of sample harvest. It is also important
to note that N. gonorrhoeae growth is inhibited in blood culture
tubes containing polyanethol sulfate.
Since N. gonorrhoeae DNA has been detected in culturenegative synovial samples by PCR amplification (97), this molecular biology tool may have a future widespread role in
accurate gonococcal arthritis diagnosis. The specificity and
sensitivity of this technique were 96.4 and 78.6%, respectively,
and the false-positive rate was 3.6% (97). However, it is unclear whether a positive PCR result represents viable but nonculturable bacteria or nonviable bacteria with an associated
reactive arthropathy. As with all PCR-based techniques, careful sample preparation and the inclusion of proper positive and
negative controls are essential to maintaining the efficacy of
this diagnostic tool. However, the generalized use of this molecular technique for routine screening and detection of N.
gonorrhoeae will not replace the “gold standard” of culture
since PCR-based methods do not yet provide information
about antibiotic sensitivity.
Imaging Studies
The utility of the imaging studies discussed above also applies to gonococcal arthritis, especially with regard to advanced
cases and monitoring treatment success. However, these diagnostic tools are generally not used in the diagnosis of this
infection. The extremely rapid clinical response to treatment,
the lack of complicating manifestations, and distal joint involvement often make imaging unnecessary.
Differential Diagnosis
The symptoms associated with N. gonorrhoeae joint infection
can be mimicked by arthritis due to other bacteria. Arthritis
due to N. meningitides is nearly indistinguishable from DGI,
especially with regard to the musculoskeletal manifestations
and arthritis-dermatitis syndrome. Skin lesions, similar to
those produced in cases of gonococcal arthritis, are also occasionally induced by infection with other pathogenic species,
including H. influenzae, Streptobacillus monoliformis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. However, patients with nonneisserial joint
infections usually present with distinct clinical characteristics
and laboratory findings (see above).
As described above for nongonococcal septic arthritis, preexisting joint infection (including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other connective tissue disorders), endocarditis, chronic infectious arthritis, viral arthritis,
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DIAGNOSIS OF GONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS
CLIN. MICROBIOL. REV.
VOL. 15, 2002
ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
TREATMENT OF NONGONOCOCCAL ARTHRTIS
Acute nongonococcal septic arthritis is a medical emergency
that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore,
prompt recognition and rapid and aggressive treatments are
critical to ensuring a good prognosis. The treatment of this
form of septic arthritis includes both appropriate antimicrobial
therapy and joint drainage (Table 1).
Antibiotic Therapy
Most people with suppurative arthritis respond clinically to
appropriate antimicrobial agents after the initial diagnostic
joint aspiration. Initial antimicrobial therapy is based on the
clinical presentation, a thorough history, initial Gram stain,
and joint fluid analysis. The patient’s history and clinical course
often provide clues to distinguish between gonococcal, nongonococcal, and granulomatous arthritis. Joint culture collection followed by initiation of treatment with an effective broadspectrum antibiotic should be done as soon as possible. The
initial antibiotic therapy is adjusted, if necessary, based on
appropriate culture and antibiotic sensitivity results (Table 2).
The usual course of therapy for nongonococcal arthritis is 2
weeks for arthritis due to H. influenzae or Streptococcus spp.
and 3 weeks for arthritis due to S. aureus or gram-negative
bacilli. Initial antibiotic therapy in children younger than 5
years includes cefuroxime, cefotaxime, or ceftriaxone depending on the blood and joint culture results. Initial therapy for
patients older than 5 years is aided by the Gram stain. If
clusters of gram-positive organisms suggestive of S. aureus are
seen, treatment with intravenous (i.v.) penicillinase-resistant
penicillin is begun. If gram-positive organisms in chains consistent with Streptococcus spp. are seen, penicillin G is used for
therapy. If the Gram stain is negative, an extended-spectrum
or broad-spectrum cephalosporin or semisynthetic penicillin is
appropriate. Ceftriaxone is a reasonable initial antibiotic in
sexually active adults. The initial antibiotic therapy is adjusted,
if necessary, on receipt of appropriate culture and sensitivity
results.
Few controlled studies exist assessing the optimal duration,
dose, or route of administration of antibiotics in nongonococcal arthritis (16). Most antibiotics achieve excellent bactericidal concentrations in synovial fluid following parenteral or
oral administration (116, 151). Intra-articular antimicrobial administration is usually not necessary and may cause a chemical
synovitis.
Antibiotic Administration in the Elderly
Most cases of nongonococcal arthritis occur in the elderly,
even though persons older than 65 years account for only 12%
of the population; this relative percentage will only increase
with our aging population (28, 144, 160). The choice of antibiotic therapy for these patients must be carefully made due to
the decreased organ reserve capacity, altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and polypharmacy with associated
drug-drug and drug-disease interactions characteristic of older
patients, all of which cause a high rate of adverse drug effects
in this patient population. In addition, low compliance with
prolonged or complicated oral regimens must be considered.
The physician can help to minimize adverse drug reactions and
improve outcomes by being aware of the principles of clinical
pharmacology, the characteristics of specific drugs, and the
special physical, psychological, and social needs of older patients.
The most important and best-studied pharmocokinetic alteration that occurs in the elderly is the age-associated decline
in normal renal function. The creatinine clearance is a very
useful measure of renal function in elderly patients and can be
estimated by the Cockroft-Gault equation (29) in which the
creatinine clearance (in milliliters per minute) is assumed to
equal the percentage of normal renal function:
Creatinine clearance (ml/min)
⫽
共140 ⫺ age) ⫻ weight (kg)
⫻ 0.85 (for females)
72 ⫻ serum creatinine level (mg/dl)
Antibiotic loading and maintenance doses should be estimated and confirmed by measuring peak and trough concentrations in serum after the fourth dose. The loading dose
may be calculated by using the ideal body weight to estimate
lean mass (28):
Ideal body weight ⫽ [(height in inches ⫺ 60) ⫻ 2.3]
⫹ 50 kg (males) or 45 kg females)
The dose may be adjusted upward or downward to compensate for increased or decreased extracellular fluid volume.
The maintenance dose should be estimated using ideal body
weight and percentage of normal renal function.
Prolonged use of aminoglycosides should be avoided if possible because of the increased risk for ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity in elderly patients. It is important to note that for drugs
with appreciable renal clearance, such as vancomycin and aminoglycosides, monitoring of plasma drug levels is wise (28). In
Australia, cases of cholestatic hepatitis were found in elderly
patients (predominantly women) following 3 weeks of flucloxacillin treatment (45). Augmentin (amoxacillin-clavulanate)
was also associated with instances of cholestatic hepatitis.
However, this side effect was noted primarily in elderly men
following Augmentin treatment for more than 2 weeks (92).
Due to reports of seizures, the intravenous dose of 0.5 g every
6 h should be reduced in elderly patients with decreased renal
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and crystal-induced arthritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Also, cases of gonococcal arthritis and reactive arthritis (specifically sexually acquired reactive arthritis)
may be hard to distinguish since both involve sexually active
people and common symptoms are seen, including urethritis,
conjunctivitis, oral ulcers, and genitourinary manifestations.
However, the patients are usually HLA-B27 positive, the onset
is often slower and less acute, and the skin lesions (if present)
are usually keratoderma blenorrhagicum and circinate balanitis in this form of reactive arthritis. Also, antibiotic therapy is
usually ineffective. Preicteric hepatitis may also be confused
with DGI since it commonly presents with tenosynovitis, polyarthritis, and skin rash. However, in hepatitis-associated arthritis, the rash usually resembles hives, the concentrations of
synovial leukocyte are lower, and the hepatitis surface antigen
can usually be detected in the blood.
537
538
SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
CLIN. MICROBIOL. REV.
TABLE 2. Initial choice of antibiotics for therapy of infectious arthritis (adult doses)
Organism
Methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Antibiotics of first choice
Alternative antibiotics
SXTa or minocycline ⫾ rifampin
Vancomycin 1 g every 12 h or
linezolid 600 mg every 12 h
SXT or minocycline ⫾ rifampin, clindamycinb
Nafcillin 2 g every 6 h or
clindamycin 900 mg every 8 h
Cefazolin, vancomycin
Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.
Nafcillin 2 g every 6 h or
clindamycin 900 mg every 8 h
Cefazolin, vancomycin
Group A streptococcus, S. pyogenes
Penicillin G 2 million every 4 h or
ampicillin 2 g every 6 h
Clindamycin, cefazolin
Group B streptococcus, S. agalactiae
Penicillin G 2 million every 4 h or
ampicillin 2 g every 6 h
Clindamycin, cefazolin
Enterococcus spp.
Ampicillin 2 g every 6 hc or
vancomycin 1 g every 12 h
Ampicillin-sulbactam, linezolid
Escherichia coli
Ampicillin-sulbactam 3 g every 6 h
Cefazolin, levofloxacin, gentamicin, SXT
Proteus mirabilis
Ampicillin 2 g every 6 h or
Levofloxacin 500 mg daily
Cefazolin, SXT, gentamicin
Proteus vulgaris, Proteus rettgeri,
Morganella morganii
Cefotaxime 2 g every 6 h,
imipenem 500 mg every 6 h, or
levofloxacin 500 mg daily
Mezlocillin, gentamicin, or ticarcillin-clavulanate
Serratia marcescens
Cefotaxime 2 g every 6 h
Levofloxacin, gentamicin, imipenem
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cefepimed 2 gm every 12 h or
Ticarcillin-clavulanate, tobramycin, amikacin,
ciprofloxacine
Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.
Methicillin sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus
d
Piperacillin 3 gm every 6 h or
Imipenem 500 every 6 h
Neisseria gonorrhea
Ceftriaxone 2 g daily or
Cefotaxime 1 g every 8 h
Levofloxacin, ampicillin
Bacteroides fragilis group
Clindamycin 900 mg every 8 h or
metronidazole 500 mg every 8 h
Ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid
a
SXT, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim.
If sensitive to clindamycin.
In a serious Enterococcus infection, ampicillin plus an aminoglycoside is used.
d
In a serious infection, those drugs should be used with an aminoglycoside.
e
Increasing resistance of the quinolones including ciprofloxacin.
b
c
function, cerebrovascular disease, or seizure disorders (152).
Cefamandole may increase creatinine levels in the elderly.
Seizures due to hypo- or hyperglycemia were noted in four
elderly patients being treated with ofloxacin (176). Quinolones,
fluoroquinolones, and tetracycline may have decreased oral
absorption when coadministered with aluminum- or magnesium-containing antacids or sucralfate (Carafate). Quimapril
(Accupril), a newly released angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitor, contains a high concentration of magnesium, which
may also decrease the oral absorption of fluoroquinolones and
tetracycline. The interaction of rifampin with a large number
of therapeutic agents requires close patient monitoring and
follow-up (54). It is important to note that potent loop diuretics decrease the extracellular fluid volume, thereby elevating
the levels of antibiotics in serum and requiring further reductions in dose levels.
Surgical Therapy
There are a variety of methods to drain the purulent fluid
from the infected joint. Presented in ascending order of invasiveness, cost, and effectiveness in the thoroughness of drainage, they include needle aspiration, tidal irrigation, arthroscopy, and arthrotomy. There is no set of universally accepted
criteria for choosing the drainage method. It is agreed that the
specific method of drainage used should be tailored to the
clinical situation of the patient. However, some general guidelines can be listed.
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Vancomycin 1 g every 12 h or
linezolid 600 mg every 12 h
VOL. 15, 2002
539
elbow in flexion at 90°, and forearm in neutral rotation). Isotonic exercise is often helpful in preventing muscular atrophy.
Following the acute phase, early physical therapy and aggressive mobilization are vital for optimal recovery (156, 161).
TREATMENT OF GONOCOCCAL ARTHRITIS
The treatment of gonococcal arthritis strongly relies on appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and surgical procedures besides aspiration are rarely indicated. Patients should initially be
hospitalized and should remain in this setting until 1 or 2 days
following symptom resolution or for the entire length of therapy for patients who cannot be relied on to comply with treatment. The patient should also return 1 week after completion
of the prescribed antibiotic regimen for follow-up, and clinicians should obtain and analyze synovial fluid samples of all
previously affected joints at this time.
In the United States, nearly 30% of all N. gonorrhoeae isolates are resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, or both (26).
Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
suggest that patients with gonococcal arthritis should be
treated initially with parenteral ceftriaxone (1 g intramuscularly [i.m.] or i.v. every 24 h) (25). Therapeutically equivalent
doses of other broad-spectrum cephalosporins (e.g., cefotaxime 1 g i.v. every 8 h or ceftizoxime 1 g i.v. every 8 h) are
effective (10). The tetracyclines (except in pregnant women) or
penicillins may be used if the infecting organism is proven to be
susceptible. Skin lesions may continue to develop for up to 2
days following the initiation of antibiotic therapy. These lesions are often due to the localization of host complement
complexes in the skin. The treatment may be switched to oral
antibiotic therapy with a quinolone (ciprofloxacin 500 mg
orally twice a day or ofloxacin 400 mg orally twice a day),
except in pregnant women or young children, or cefixime (400
mg orally twice a day) to complete 7 to 10 days of total therapy
48 h after clinical improvement begins (39). It should be noted
that resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime is rare in the United
States. Also, only approximately 1.4% of all N. gonorrhoeae
isolates demonstrate intermediate or full resistance to ciprofloxacin (26). Therefore, these antibiotics are still highly effective in the treatment of DGI.
Patients indicating penicillin allergies should be given spectinomycin (2 g i.m. every 12 h). However, the clinician must be
aware that this antibiotic shows poor activity against pharyngeal N. gonorrhoeae infection. Therefore, cultures should be
performed on these patients 3 to 5 days following treatment. In
the Western world, spectinomycin-resistant gonococcal isolates are a rare occurrence (26). However, resistance rates of
up to 10% of isolates for this antibiotic have been demonstrated in a few countries (67). Alternative antibiotics in the
␤-lactam-allergic patient may be ciprofloxacin (500 mg i.v. every 12 h) or ofloxacin (400 mg i.v. every 12 h). Children weighing more than 45 kg should be treated with a single daily dose
of ceftriaxone (50 mg/kg and a maximum dose of 2 g, i.m. or
i.v.) for 10 to 14 days. For children weighing less than 45 kg, a
7-day parenteral ceftriaxone regimen (50 mg/kg and a maximum dose of 1 g, i.m. or i.v. in a single daily dose) is recommended. In geographic areas with high rates of N. gonorrhoeae
and Chlamydia trachomatis coinfection, doxycycline or azithromycin may be added to the antibiotic treatment regimen since
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Patients should be initially treated with needle aspiration if
a joint infection is easily accessible, if the vast majority of the
purulent fluid can be removed, and if the patient does not
suffer from negative prognostic indicators (see below). Although no prospective studies of these methods exist, most
retrospective studies suggest that peripheral joints such as the
knee, elbow, ankle, and wrist receive needle aspiration initially
whereas axial joints, such as the hip, shoulder and sternoclavicular joint undergo open drainage (59, 137). Repeated needle aspiration for recurrent joint effusions has been used with
success during the first 7 days of treatment (59, 70). If the
volume of synovial fluid, the cell count, and the percentage of
polymorphonuclear leukocytes decrease with each aspiration,
then the combination of antimicrobial therapy and aspiration
as needed is probably adequate (70). Persistence of effusion
beyond 7 days is evidence that arthroscopy or open drainage
should be performed. Tidal irrigation is as effective as arthoscopy and can be performed at the bedside. This closed-system
irrigation method may be useful when needle aspiration results
in incomplete evacuation or when multiple synovial fluid samples demonstrate different characteristics, indicating the presence of loculating pockets of infection. Arthroscopic lavage has
been increasingly used in the treatment of septic arthritis of the
knee. A recent study demonstrated that this method may also
be effective for deep joints, such as the hip. Arthroscopy is
advantageous in that extensive debridement can be performed
with a small incision, thereby allowing for a more rapid and
effective rehabilitation period. Further study of the efficacy of
tidal irrigation and arthroscopy needs to be performed. Arthroscopy is a less invasive technique than open surgery and
provides much better irrigation and visualization than needle
aspiration (58). Aspiration under radiologic imaging or open
surgical drainage with vigorous exploration and debridement is
recommended for hip infections as well as for joint infections
possessing adhesions or loculated areas of abscess (59, 87).
Arthrotomy should be used when an infected joint must be
decompressed urgently because of neuropathy or compromised blood supply, when the infected joint is inaccessible by
less invasive methods (such as the hip and sometimes the
shoulder), when the joint has been damaged by preexisting
disease, when bacterial arthritis is complicated by osteomyelitis, and when the less invasive methods of treatment fail. Also,
when the isolated pathogen (e.g., P. aeruginosa) can be treated
only with aminoglycosides, arthrotomy is often required to
overcome the low oxygen tensions and pH of the infected joint.
A number of patient factors have also been implicated as
negative prognostic indicators in septic arthritis and may increase the need for invasive surgical intervention. Some of
these factors include a long duration between symptom onset
and treatment, complicated joint site, extremes of age, underlying illness, immunosuppressive drugs, underlying joint diseases, presence of juxta-articular osteomyelitis, and chronic
failure of less invasive methods to clear the infection as demonstrated by positive blood or syovial fluid cultures, continued
back pain, and restriction of motion.
During the acute phase of bacterial arthritis, patient rest and
optimal joint position are absolutely required to prevent the
occurrence of joint deformation and deleterious contractures.
Splints may be used to maintain proper joint position (hip in
neutral rotation in some abduction, knee in full extension,
ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
540
SHIRTLIFF AND MADER
the cost of therapy for chlamydia is often lower than the cost of
testing (25).
Surgical management of the affected joint is usually not
necessary, with the exception of the initial joint aspiration for
synovial fluid sample collection at presentation. The diminution of symptoms is often rapid in these patients, and so subsequent joint drainage is often unnecessary. However, in cases
of persistent effusion, the affected joint should be repeatedly
drained as needed. In rare, very advanced cases, tidal irrigation, arthroscopy, and arthrotomy may play a role in disease
resolution. While most patients display a dramatic response to
therapy, some patients, especially those with large joint effusions or high erythrocyte sedimentation rates, may require
longer hospital stays.
The increased use of implanted prosthetic joints has provided a physiological niche for pathogenic organisms to cause
septic arthritis. In fact, prosthetic joint implantation and replacement is the single most common cause of joint infections.
The prevalence of infection after total knee or hip arthroplasty
is estimated to be approximately 1 to 2%, while in patients with
rheumatoid arthritis, the incidence rate can climb to 4.4% (13).
If the infection is of recent onset (⬍3 months after surgery),
it was probably the result of surgical contamination. In this
setting, Staphylococcus epidermidis predominates as the major
isolate. However, late-onset infection is usually caused by hematogenous seeding, and S. aureus is the most common isolate,
followed by Streptococcus spp., gram-negative bacilli, and
anaerobes.
An inherent problem associated with implants is their propensity to be coated by host proteins such as fibrinogen and
fibronectin shortly after implantation (49). In the short term,
fibrinogen and fibrin seem to be the dominant coating host
proteins, while fibronectin becomes dominant in the long term
since fibrinogen and fibrin are degraded. Implants can then act
as a colonization surface to which bacteria readily adhere, like
the fibrinogen and fibrin binding receptors of S. aureus.
Also, implants are often responsible for reduced blood flow
and local immunocompromise by impairing natural killer, lymphocytic, and phagocytic cell activities. These implanted devices have also been linked to decreases in the amount of
superoxide, a mediator of bacterial killing within professional
phagocytic blood cells (136). Another mechanism by which
implanted medical devices produce local immune compromise
is through frustrated phagocytosis (136). In this case, professional phagocytes may undergo apoptosis when encountering a
substrate of a size that is beyond their phagocytic capability.
The resulting release of reactive products of oxygen and lysosomal enzymes may cause accidental host tissue damage and
local vascular insufficiency, thereby increasing the predisposition of osteomyelitis development. Also, some of the normal
phagocytic processes are devoted to removal of the implant
foreign material (particularly with metals, methylmethacrylate,
and polyglycolic acid), thereby utilizing the energy and resources of the immune system that would normally be used to
fight infection (146, 147, 184). Therefore, prosthetic implants
not only provide a substrate for bacterial adherence but also
limit the ability of the host to adequately deal with the infec-
tion. Once colonized, bacteria (such as staphylococcal species)
are able to synthesize a “slime” layer, termed the glycocalyx or
biofilm. This layer prevents the inward diffusion of a number of
antimicrobials and host phagocytic cells, allowing bacteria to
escape from the effects of antimicrobial therapy and host clearance (19). Once an implant is colonized and osteomyelitis
ensues, the only treatment option is implant removal. Finally,
it has been shown that nasal carriage of the organism by the
patient was the most important risk factor associated with
surgical site infection (81). Therefore, it may be a worthwhile
goal to eliminate S. aureus nasal carriage prior to invasive
procedures.
The risk of implant infection may be increased by a number
of factors. First, certain joint replacements are more susceptible to infection because they remain close to the surface and
have poor soft tissue coverage (e.g., total elbow arthroplasties)
(163) or require prolonged surgery. Second, certain patient
populations are at increased risk because of underlying conditions or systemic diseases, including patients with diabetes
mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis (40); also, patients who are
elderly, obese, or malnourished or who have undergone prior
surgery at the implantation site are at risk. Third, polymethylmethacrylate bone cement may be inhibitory to the activity of
leukocytes and complement function; also, the heat released
during polymethylmethacrylate polymerization may kill the
juxtaposed cortical bone, thereby creating a nonvascularized
area and providing the bacteria with a lush growth environment while being sealed off from the circulating host defenses.
The clinical presentation of prosthetic joint infections of
early onset (⬍3 months postimplantation) is much like that of
acute septic arthritis and includes joint swelling, pain, leukocytosis, and a febrile response. In contrast, patients with lateonset infections, while demonstrating an elevated erythrocyte
sedimentation rate, are often afebrile (50%), lack leukocytosis,
and have less pronounced clinical features and gradually progressive joint pain. Imaging studies can be used but are often
unable to distinguish between hardware loosening, a noninfectious inflammatory response, and active infection. Therefore,
accurate diagnosis depends on collecting periprosthetic and
fluid samples by needle aspiration in suspected cases of infected prosthetic knees or by arthrotomy in cases involving
infected hips.
If caught rapidly, early-onset prosthetic joint infections may
be successfully treated with antibiotics alone or in combination
with debridement without prosthesis removal, especially when
rifampin in combination with another culture-directed antibiotic is used. However, in most cases, the disease has progressed
to a state in which the hardware must be eventually removed to
cure or arrest the bone infection. A two-stage procedure of
implant removal and debridement (stage 1) and reimplantation (stage 2) is recommended. This procedure should focus on
the state of the patient rather than the specific organism when
determining the interval between stages since recurrence is
usually associated with the quality of the initial debridement,
not with the infecting organism. Earlier attempts at arthrodesis
rather than repeated attempts at reimplantation are recommended. On occasion, patients can be given suppressive oral
antibiotic therapy if they refuse implant replacement or if
surgery is prohibitive. Nevertheless, prosthesis removal will
eventually have to be performed. Another 4- to 6-week course
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A SPECIAL CASE: PROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTIONS
CLIN. MICROBIOL. REV.
VOL. 15, 2002
ACUTE SEPTIC ARTHRITIS
of culture directed antibiotic therapy should be administered
following the last major surgery. Since recurrence rates have
been found to be up to 60% in patients with rheumatoid
arthritis, these patients should be monitored.
541
The prognosis for patients with gonococcal arthritis is very
favorable, with a rapid diminution of symptoms and a full
return of joint function. In rare cases of DGI (i.e., 1 to 3% of
cases), complications such as endocarditis, pericarditis, osteomyelitis, pyomyositis, perihepatitis, and meningitis may occur.
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A permanent reduction in joint function is seen in approximately 40% of patients with nongonococcal septic arthritis but
ranges between 10 and 73% (5, 77–79). This wide range of
observed morbidity reflects the dependence of therapy success
on host, bacterial, and diagnostic and treatment factors. The
mortality associated with this disease is usually between 5 and
20% and is often a result of the transient or chronic bacteremia
that causes most cases of septic arthritis (5, 77–79, 86). This
high rate has not changed significantly over the last 40 years,
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The results of treatment vary greatly with the number of
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